McDowell education program gets $300K AT&T grant

CHARLESTON (AP) — AT&T is donating $300,000 to help McDowell County high school students participate in a mentoring and career training program.

The initiative offers mentorships, college campus visits and job shadowing for 20 students a year over three years.

The students are in Charleston this week visiting workplaces, from law firms to construction sites. They’ll visit Washington, D.C. in June.

The program is part of Reconnecting McDowell, which aims to improve educational, economic and social opportunities. With the American Federation for Teachers’ help, the program began in December 2011 and has 125 public and private partners.

McDowell consistently ranks at or near the bottom nationally in health, income and education.

In March, the program distributed 875 laptops to middle school students and their guardians. Thirty new affordable apartments for teachers are planned.